Child wasn’t traumatized

I am writing to you in response to the letter headlined “Concern about snake display.” I am writing in defense of Mr. Mirick as the mother of the “in your face victim.”

I can assure any concerned area residents that Alexandra was far from traumatized. She did (as the photographer noted) go on to hold the snake and did enjoy the program very much. Alexandra actually reported to me that she was smelling her hands (which takes away from the original cuteness of the picture) and was not in fact scared at all. We are regulars at the Worcester EcoTarium and are very familiar with wildlife, and my children thoroughly love learning about it.

My only complaint as a parent is that Mr. Mirick may have struggled a bit with the younger children. I think the program may have been better suited to children in grades 2 or higher. Many children were unable to sit and listen to the program; they may have been too young to be interested in the specifics of what Mr. Mirick was saying.

With that, I can assure you that my second grader and Alexandra did enjoy the program and getting up close and personal with the snake at the end of the program. I am truly sorry for the fear inflicted upon [letter writer] Mr. Claprood’s family member, but I can assure you Mr. Mirick didn’t do that to Alexandra. Not too mention, I am pretty sure that frightening the children would also frighten the snake, which I am sure Mr. Mirick would not want.